Objective To summarize the characteristics and management of pregnancy complicated with aortic dissection, and to explore the reasonable diagnosis and treatment plan. Methods The clinical data of 10 patients of pregnancy complicated with aortic dissection in Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2011 to June 2017 were collected. Their age was 25.2 (21-29) years. Results In the 10 patients, the majority (8 patients) were primipara, and most of them were in the late stages of pregnancy (5 patients) and puerperal (4 patients). Among them, 1 patient had gestational hypertension, and the blood pressure of the left and right upper extremities was significantly abnormal (initial blood pressure: left upper limb blood pressure: 90/60 mm Hg, right upper limb blood pressure: 150/90 mm Hg). The major clinical manifestations were severe chest and back pain which happened suddenly, with D-dimmer and C-creative protein increased which may be associated with inflammatory reaction. All patients were diagnosed by thoracoabdominal aortic CTA, including 5 patients of Stanford type A dissection and 5 patients of Stanford type B dissection. In the 10 patients, 1 patient refused surgery and eventually died of aortic rupture with the death of fetus before birth. And the remaining 9 patients underwent surgical treatment, 3 patients of endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft, 2 patients underwent Bentall operation, 1 patient with Bentall + total aortic arch replacement + vascular thoracic aortic stent graft, 1 patient with Bentall operation combined with endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft, 1 patient with Bentall + coronary artery bypass grafting, 1 patient of thoracoabdominal aortic vascular replacement. Among them, 1 patient underwent endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft died of severe postoperative infection, and the remaining 8 patients were discharged from hospital. Nine patients were single birth, among them 5 newborn patients had severe asphyxia, 4 patients had mild asphyxia. Finally, 3 neonates died of severe complications, and the remaining 6 survived. Conclusion The ratio of pregnancy with Stanford type A aortic dissection is far higher than in the general population, the possibility of fetal intrauterine asphyxia is larger, but through active and effective surgical and perioperative treatment, we can effectively save the life of mother and fetus.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of optimized arterial perfusion strategy on total arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) with malperfusion syndrome (MPS).MethodsFrom 2017 to 2019, 51 patients with AAAD and MPS who had received total arch replacement with optimized arterial perfusion strategy in our hospital were included in the optimized perfusion group, including 40 males and 11 females, with an average age of 47.43±13.39 years. A total of 40 patients with AAAD and MPS who had been treated with traditional Sun's surgery were taken as the traditional control group, including 31 males and 9 females, with an average age of 50.66±12.05 years. The perioperative clinical data of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe preoperative baseline data of the two groups were basically consistent (P>0.05). The comparison of operative data between the optimized perfusion group and the traditional control group showed that in the optimized perfusion group, the extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time, and circulation-out cerebral perfusion time were significantly less than those in the traditional control group (223.64±65.13 min vs. 266.77±87.04 min, 114.48±27.28 min vs. 138.20±39.89 min, 8.28±3.81 min vs. 50.53±23.60 min, all P≤0.05). The lowest intraoperative nasopharyngeal temperature in the optimized perfusion group was significantly higher than that in the traditional control group (27.10±1.18℃ vs. 23.6±3.30℃, P=0.000). Postoperative wakefulness time of the optimized perfusion group was earlier than that of the traditional control group (4.50±1.35 h vs. 5.27±1.15 h, P=0.019). The volume of blood transfusions in the optimized perfusion group was significantly less than that in the traditional control group (13.25±9.06 U vs. 16.95±7.53 U, P=0.046). There was no significant difference in ICU time and invasive ventilation time between the two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative complications of the two groups showed that the incidence of postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy in the optimized perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the traditional control group, with a statistically significant difference (21.6% vs. 42.5% P=0.003). The incidence of postoperative delirium, coma, low cardiac row syndrome and limb ischemia in the optimized perfusion group was lower than that in the traditional control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative hemiplegia, sepsis, and secondary thoracotomy in the optimized perfusion group was higher than that in the traditional control group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Postoperative mortality in the optimized perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the traditional control group (13.7% vs. 27.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.102).ConclusionOptimized arterial perfusion strategy and its related comprehensive surgical technique reduce surgical trauma, shorten the operation time, reduce perioperative consumption of blood products. Postoperative wakefulness is rapid and the incidence of complications of nervous system, kidney and limb ischemia is low. Optimized arterial perfusion strategy is suitable for operation of AAAD with MPS by inhibiting the related potential death risk factors to reduce operation mortality.
Aortic aneurysm and dissection are critical cardiovascular diseases that threaten human life and health seriously. No pharmacological treatment can effectively prevent disease progression. The imbalance of aortic wall cells and non-cellular components leads to structural or functional degeneration of the aorta, which is a prerequisite for disease occurrence. As the important non-cellular component, extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial to maintain the aortic structure, function, and homeostasis. Abnormal production of elastin and collagen, destruction of cross-linking between elastic fibers and collagen fibers, and the imbalance of metalloproteinase and inhibitors leads to excessive degradation of ECM proteins, all of which have destroyed the structure and function of aorta. It will provide more ideas for disease prevention and treatment by learning ECM proteins and their metabolic mechanism. Here, we focus on the ECM proteins that have been reported to be involved in aortic aneurysm and dissection, and discuss the regulatory mechanism of metalloproteinase and inhibitors.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of ozone on oxidative stress and energy metabolism change of blood from aortic dissection (AD) patients for providing preliminary evidence of application of ozonated autohemotherapy (ozone-AHT) in AD patients. MethodsTwenty AD patients (16 males and 4 females with a mean age of 48.51±10.21 years) were consecutively included in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from March 2016 to August 2016, and blood samples were collected from all participants and ozonized in vitro at different ozone concentrations (0 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml, 160 μg/ml). Malondialdehyde (MDA), red blood cells (RBCs) superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na+-K+-ATP, 2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) at different ozone concentrations were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsIn the control group (0 μg/ml), the content of postoperative MDA was significantly higher than that of preoperation (P<0.05). The contents of postoperative SOD, Na+-K+-ATP and 2,3-DPG were significantly lower than that of preoperation (P<0.05). The content of MDA at the concentrations of 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml group increased after the operation (P>0.05), and the SOD, Na+-K+-ATP, 2,3-DPG decreased compared with the preoperation (P>0.05). But all the values were not statistically significant at the concentrations of 40 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml and 160 μg/ml respectively between preoperation and postoperation (P>0.05). Compared with other concentration groups, the content of preoperative and postoperative MDA increased in the ozone group (160 μg/ml), and oppositely, the contents ofpreoperative and postoperative SOD, Na+-K+- ATP and 2,3-DPG decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion The concentrations of 40 to 80 μg/ml of ozone can improve the antioxidant capacity of erythrocyte membrane, reduce oxidative stress in blood samples of AD patients and improve the energy metabolism of erythrocyte membranes, so the concentration range of ozone is safe and feasible for the ozone-AHT of perioperative AD.
Objective To analyze the surgical effect of total aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk (Sun’s procedure) for acute or chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection, and to investigate the optimal surgical timing for Stanford type A aortic dissection involving aortic arch. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 327 patients with acute or chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection treated by Sun's procedure from June 2010 to June 2014 in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the time from onset to operation was longer than 2 weeks: an acute group with 229 patients (≤2 weeks, the average time of onset to operation 5.70±3.50 d) and a chronic group with 98 patients (>2 weeks, the average time of onset to operation 21.60±15.70 d). There were 186 males and 43 females with a mean age of 47.47±11.19 years in the acute group, and 76 males and 22 females with a mean age of 45.62±12.92 years in the chronic group. The patients discharged from hospital were followed up for one year. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in preoperative data. The rate of coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, intraoperative and postoperative 24 h red blood cell intake were higher or more in the acute group than those in the chronic group (P<0.05). The in-hospital morality, ICU stay, mechanical ventilation time, the incidence of neurological dysfunction, low cardiac output syndrome, acute renal failure with continuous renal replacement therapy, hepatic insufficiency, poor wound healing were higher or more in the acute group than those in the chronic group (P<0.05). During one year follow-up, the survival rate of the acute and chronic groups was 97.0% and 97.6% respectively (P>0.05). No new complications were found in the two groups. The irreversible neurological dysfunction, paraplegia and renal failure showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion The short-term mortality and complications of acute Stanford A aortic dissection involving aortic arch treated by Sun’s procedure are significantly higher or more than those of chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection. The risk of surgical treatment in acute phase is high.
Objective To evaluate the value of 16slice spiral computed tomography (SCT) and its threedimensional reconstruction in diagnosis of aortic dissection (AD). Methods Fortyfive cases with AD underwent 16slice SCT, performed with unenhanced, contrastenhanced scanning and threedimensional reconstructions. Emphasis was placed on the true and false lumen, intimal flap, the entry and reentry tear and the involvement of branches of AD. Eleven cases were confimed by operation. Results True and false lumen and intimal flap of AD could be shown in all 45 cases (100%), the entry and reentry tears were revealed in 44 cases (97.8%) and 33 cases (73.3%), respectively. The right common iliac arteries were most easily involved by AD, 21 cases (46.7%). The thrombi in false lumen were shown in 29 cases (64.4%). Compared with surgery, the location and size of initial entry sites of 11 cases were consistent with the former. Conclusion 16slice SCT can exactly and completely diagnose AD, and provide detailed imaging information for clinical therapy. It’s very important for the selection of treatment methods and the observation of curative effect of patients.
Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatment for 84 patients with aortic dissection, investigate the surgical technique and perioperative treatment, and to improve surgical results. Methods The operations were performed in 50 patients with aortic dissection of Stanford A， Bentall or Cabrol operations were performed in 24 patients, graft replacement of ascending aorta in 8 patients, Trusler operation in 5 patients, Wheat operation in 5patients, operation of ascending aorta and aortic arch in 8 patients.Stentgraft were used in 34 patients with aortic dissection of Stanford B. Results There were 11 hospital death,the hospital mortality was 13.1%.There were 3 operative deaths.One patient with ascending aortic and hemiarch grafting died of aortic root bleeding;one patient with replacement of ascending aorta died of failure to restart heart beating；one patient with ascending aortic and hemiarch grafting died of rapture of aortic dissection. There were 8 postoperative deaths, including low cardiac output syndrome in 2 patients, lung infection in 2 patients, renal failure in 2 patients， respiratory failure in 1 patient and permanent mental anomaly in 1 patient. The complications were occurred in 16 patients. The followup period was 3 months to 10 years, and carried out in 62 patients（84.9%，62/73).One died of endocarditis, another one died of sudden death. Conclusion The surgicaltreatment of aortic dissection could be carried out safely based on the accurate diagnosis， specific surgical strategy and fine surgical technique.
ObjectiveTo investigate the multidisciplinary management of patients with acute type A aortic dissection in late pregnancy.MethodsThe clinical data of 3 patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from 2018 to 2019 were analyzed. Their age ranged from 27 to 32 years, while gestational age was 34-37 weeks. Sudden chest pain was the main clinical symptom before operation. All 3 patients underwent Bentall surgery after cesarean section under general anesthesia, of whom 2 patients received total arch replacement (TAR) combined with frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation and 1 received coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) additionally.ResultsNo patient died during the perioperative period, and all the newborns were delivered successfully and survived healthily. The ICU stay was 3-5 d. The postoperative hospital stay was 15-18 d. The follow-up was 250-751 d. There was no recurrence or death. One patient who developed spontaneous pneumothorax and hydropneumothorax was cured in our center.ConclusionThe multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment strategy plays a crucial role in saving the life of pregnant patients with acute type A aortic dissection.
Objective To investigate the relationship of cluster of differentiation 40L (CD40L) between inflammatory response mediated by vascular endothelial injury and Stanford A type aortic dissection (STAAD). Methods In this study from August 2016 to February 2017, a total of 215 blood samples from 95 STAAD patients (67 males and 28 females aged 48.33±12.19 years) and 120 healthy volunteers (94 males and 26 females aged 48.64±10.13 years) were collected. The patients with aortic dissection were taken blood 1 hour before the operation and the healthy volunteers were taken blood from the elbow vein. All STAAD patients were diagnozed by computed tomography angiography (CTA) and patients with Marfan syndrome were excluded. Blood samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for CD40L, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), E-selectin, interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and so on. ResultsCompared with the healthy population, the level of SCD40L(26.87±5.50 ng/ml vs. 13.39±4.03 ng/ml, P<0.001) in the STAAD patients was significantly higher. E-Selectin (116.62±25.24 ng/ml vs. 77.05±14.30 ng/ml, P<0.001), VCAM-1 (P<0.001), TNF-α (55.35±9.12 ng/ml vs. 37.33±5.61 pg/ml, P<0.001), IL-1β (62.12±13.37 ng/ml vs. 48.68±9.86 pg/ml, P<0.001), IL-6 (499.54±90.45 ng/ml vs. 422.44±34.00 pg/ml, P<0.001) significantly increased. Conclusion The increased expression of SCD40L in STAAD patients and the inflammatory reaction induced by endothelial injury in aortic dissection patients are obvious.
Abstract： Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of young patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection who received surgical treatment in General Hospital of PLA between March 2004 and June 2011. All the patients were divided into two groups: a young patient group with patients’ age less than 40 years and a control group with patients’ age more than or equal to 40 years. There were 23 patients including 17 males and 6 females with an average age of 34.2±6.3 years in the young patient group and 31 patients including 27 males and 4 females with an average age of 51.5±6.8 years in the control group. The clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass（CBP）time（224.4±83.1 min vs. 215.0±88.0 min, t=0.39, P=0.69） and aortic cross-clamping time（152.3±60.8 min vs. 130.9±51.2 min, t=1.34, P=0.18）between the two groups. Compared with the patients in the control group, young patients were more likely to have congenital malformations with rate at 34.7%（8/23） vs. 6.4%（2/31） with χ2=5.27, P=0.02, such as Marfan syndrome and bicuspid aortic valve. The mortality of the young patients was similar to patients in the control group at rate of 13.0%（3/23）vs.12.9%（4/31） with χ2=0.15 and P=0.69, but postoperative mental and neurological complications rate in the young patient group were less frequent than those in the control group at 4.3%（1/23）vs. 32.2%（10/31） with χ2=5.32 and P=0.02. Conclusion Young patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection have fewer cardiovascular risk factors for aortic dissection but are more likely to have congenital malformations. The surgical methods are more active for young patients with less frequency of postoperative mental and neurological complications.